Nevada's Democrats
by Winnie Chu
| President
Abraham Lincoln admitted Nevada, Spanish for “snow-capped”, into the Union
as the 36th State, on October 31, 1864. During the next 75 years
mining towns flourished in this state due to the mineral wealth of the
Comstock Lode in Virginia City, Nevada. In the 1930’s Nevada’s economy
was driven mainly by tourism, especially entertainment and legalized gaming
where casinos and resorts still continue to flourish.
Nevada consists of 110,540 square miles, 485 miles long and 315 miles wide. It’s state population was 1,852,650 as of November 1998. The population of it’s capital, Carson City was 51,860 as of November 1998. The most populated city in Nevada was Las Vegas at 441,230. Three Democratic Federal Representatives, Senator Richard Bryan, Senator Harry Reid and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley represent the State of Nevada. The highest elected Democratic State official in the Executive Branch is Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa. According to the roster at the 70th (1999) Session of the State Legislature, there were a total of 42 Assemblymen in the Nevada State Assembly, 28 of which are Democrats (66%). As for the State Senate, there were 9 out of 21 State Senators whom were Democrat (43%) during the same session. The Nevada State Democratic Party’s overall objectives are to promote the betterment of human condition, the elimination of poverty in America and to support the pursuit of the American Dream, no matter their race, gender creed or sexual orientation. The Democratic party insists that all children in America are entitled to be well fed and well educated in a free and public school system and that adequate health care provided to them. The party recognizes that the golden years of the elderly should be secure and that their access to proper health care should not be disrupted. It is the party’s intention to provide a clean and safe environment for all Americans. Lastly, the Democratic party guards the right of workers to collective bargain for a fair share of the product of their labor and prevent the silencing of their unions. A few specific civil rights issues mentioned in the 1998-2000 Party Platform are the party’s support of women’s freedom over reproductive choices. They also demand equal and comparable pay for women. The party supports enforcement of the right to privacy and confidentiality for those who test positive for HIV. The party believes that protection of rights for legal immigrants are essential. The Nevada State Democrats support Medicare coverage for illegal aliens and access to education for their children. Lastly the state party opposes mandatory school prayer in public schools. As far as consumer affairs, the party supports legislation that would protect consumers from telemarketing scams and end the state’s image as the illegal telemarketing capital of America. The state party also supports the protection of consumers from overzealous credit card, in particularly those targeting senior citizens and minors. Among the many social issues that the party has taken a stand on, the safety and welfare of children is one that is important. The state party supports all laws that enforce the financial responsibility of “deadbeat” spouse to minors and recognizes the importance of preventing violence and abuse in the home. They also support the establishment; licensing and maintenance of child care and urge employers to consider on-site or subsidized day care for their employees, if possible. As for education, the state opposes vouchers, tax credits or public funding for private schools. The party supports the federal funding of education that teaches diversity and multiculturalism, alternative ways to personal problem solving, understanding peer pressure in substance abuse. They also support programs that help educate parents in parenting skills and prevention programs to reduce high incidences of teen suicide, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The state Democratic Party opposes all government censorship of educational and school library materials. The Nevada State Democratic Party opposes the privatization of Social Security and recommends that an account be set apart from federal funds in which funds are held in trust for the specific use and benefit of Social Security recipients. They also support the development of property tax rebates for Nevadans on Social Security disability. There is also support to give young people entering the work force the option to set aside a portion of their social security taxes to invest in alternative government approved investments. Since the casino enterprise has flourished in Nevada, the Democratic state party opposes the any additional federal tax on or regulation of gaming business in this state. Nevada Democrats supports growth of small business enterprises, even home-based businesses. Another issue specific to Nevada would be the issue environment safety in the Yucca Mountains. The state party opposes the establishing of high-level nuclear waste dumps in Nevada’s Yucca Mountain and opposes any attempt to negotiate for benefits in exchange for the state’s permission to allow the federal government to study and develop repository in the Yucca Mountains. Furthermore the party opposes the transportation of high level nuclear wastes to the mountain regions and turning it into the nations nuclear waste dump. The Nevada Test Site is another environmental concern for the Nevada State Democratic Party. The party supports the continuing of capabilities and skills of the workforce at the Nevada Test Site. They also supports efforts to develop potential uses of the test site to maximize all the benefits which have been a result of all the technical and scientific expertise which developed the Test Site over the past few decades. In the 1998-2000 Nevada State Democratic Party Platform, both President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore are mentioned. President Clinton was commended for reducing the deficit that resulted in lower interest rates and other economic benefits to our country. Al Gore was praised for the work on the Environment, Government Restructure, Internet and Technology while serving the United States of America. For a copy of the Nevada State Democratic Platform 1998-2000, call the Nevada State Democratic Party at (702) 737-8683. Bibliography
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